Tank wagon

Abstract

A tank wagon includes an elongated tank for transporting liquid material on a frame supported by at least one wheel set. The center line of the tank extends in an inclined direction in a forward direction. The lowermost point of the tank is in front of the wheel set with respect to the normal direction of wagon travel. The tank is composed by at least two substantially cylindrical compartments of different diameters. The compartment having the smaller diameter is rearmost and located directly above the wheel set. The two tank compartments have center lines that extend at different levels and parallel to one another. The wagon is stable in operation and its construction is such that emptying the wagon of its contents is facilitated through a tube that interconnects the lowermost points of the compartments. Preferably, the smaller diameter compartment is joined to the front compartment so that the center line of the former is substantially above that of the latter.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tank wagon comprising a frame and a tank for transporting liquid material, said frame being supported by a rear wheel set, said tank having a longitudinal axis that extends in the direction of wagon travel and said axis being inclined upwardly in a forward direction, with reference to the normal direction of travel, a lowermost tank point being located in front of said wheel set and below the top of the wheels, tank outlet means being located adjacent said lowermost point, said tank comprising two substantially cylindrical tank compartments of different diameters that enclose an uninterrupted space, the smaller diameter compartment being located directly above said wheel set. 
     
     
       2. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lowermost point is located about at the level of an axle of said wheel set. 
     
     
       3. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compartments are elongated and their center lines are positioned at different levels from one another. 
     
     
       4. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 3, wherein said compartments are positioned one behind the other. 
     
     
       5. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 3, wherein said center lines extend substantially parallel to one another in a single vertical plane. 
     
     
       6. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper generatrices of said compartments are substantially in line with one another. 
     
     
       7. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 1, wherein each compartment has an inlet-outlet port for liquids that communicates with said lowermost point. 
     
     
       8. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 7, wherein said compartments communicate with one another through a tube. 
     
     
       9. A tank wagon comprising a frame and a tank for transporting liquid material, said tank comprising two substantially cylindrical compartments of different diameters, said compartments defining an uninterrupted interior space, the center lines of said compartments extending at different levels and generally one behind the other, the lowermost points of said compartments being in communication with one another via a tube. 
     
     
       10. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tube interconnects the lowermost points of said compartments, and one of said points is located above the other. 
     
     
       11. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 10, wherein a further, laterally extending tube communicates with the first mentioned tube at a connection adjacent to the lowermost point of the front compartment. 
     
     
       12. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first-mentioned tube has a rear, laterally directed opening. 
     
     
       13. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 9, wherein a supporting plate on the compartment of larger diameter is located below the lowermost point of the tank and adjacent that point, a rear wheel set supporting the frame, said set being positioned to the rear of said plate and beneath the compartment of smaller diameter, said plate being interconnected with said wheelset by stiffening means. 
     
     
       14. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plate is inclined upwards and forwardly with reference to the direction of travel. 
     
     
       15. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 14, wherein said plate is substantially flat and extends at right angles to the vertical plane of symmetry of the wagon. 
     
     
       16. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 9, wherein the majority of said tube extends beneath the tank compartment of smaller diameter and in a downward direction towards the lowermost point of the tank. 
     
     
       17. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 9, wherein the center lines of said compartments extend at an angle to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
       18. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 17, wherein said center lines of the compartments at an angle of about 8° to the horizontal. 
     
     
       19. A tank wagon as claimed in claim 17, wherein the front end of each compartment is located at a higher level than the corresponding rear end and the lowermost point of said compartment of smaller diameter is above the lowermost point of the other compartment.